December 20, 2007

Ordinary vs. Extraordinary

I came across the following brief article that seems to be representative of a movement to interpret the relaxation of rules with regard to the celebration of the Traditional Latin Mass:

.

Pope Benedict XVI, in Summorum Pontificum, his motu proprio liberating the Tridentine Latin Mass, says that the new vernacular Mass is "the ordinary expression" of Catholic worship, and the Tridentine Latin Mass is "an extraordinary expression," according to the official translation.

.

In The American Heritage Dictionary, "ordinary" is defined as: "1. Commonly encountered; usual; 2.a. Of no exceptional ability, degree, or quality; average; 2.b. Of inferior quality; second-rate." "Extraordinary" is defined as: "1. Beyond what is ordinary or usual; 2. Highly exceptional; remarkable." No doubt, the Tridentine Latin Mass is "remarkable."

.

Sr. Joan Chittister examines the Tridentine Latin Mass in her column in the National Catholic Reporter (Aug. 3); she offers an evenhanded assessment: "The sense of mystique, the incantation of 'heavenly' [Latin] rather than 'vulgar' language [English] in both prayer and music, underscores a theology of transcendence. It lifts a person out of the humdrum, the dusty, the noisy, crowded chaos of normal life to some other world. It reminds us of the world to come — beautiful, mystifying, ordered, perfumed [we don't agree that incense is perfume]. It takes us beyond the present, enables us, if only for a while, to 'slip the surly bonds of earth' for a world less mundane."

.

In the Dictionary of Ecclesiastic Latin, "ordinárius" is defined as: "ordinary, regular, usual, in order." "Extraordinárius" is defined as: "extraordinary, from another source, from the outside." The Tridentine Latin Mass is extraordinary, from another source, from the outside world — it takes one Heavenward. John Henry Newman said, "Time is short, eternity is long." We say, "Life is short, eternity is forever."

.

It never ceases to amaze me the extent to which people will twist language to achieve their personal agenda.If we assume this warped understanding of the Tridentine Mass then Extraordinary Ministers of Communion are greater than ordained ministers and have a greater right to fill that role than priests.You can’t have it both ways!